Friday, January 16, 2009

What's Taller than Tall?

I'm in Portland, Oregon this weekend preparing to speak at a conference on the reliability of the New Testament. After getting my meeting room set up, Neil Mammen and I went to Starbucks for some hot chocolate. I've only gone to Starbucks a few times, but I think I'm begining to catch the bug. When I finally made my way to the front counter, I was greeted with a smile and asked the following question:

Starbucks Girl: "can I help you?"
Me: "Sure, can I please have a regular hot chocolate?"
Starbucks Girl: "What size would you like?"
Me: "I'll have a large one."
Starbucks Girl: "well would you like a grande?"
Me: "How big is a Grande?"
Starbucks Girl: "It is a medium"
Me: No, I would like a Tall one"
Starbuck Girl: "The tall is smaller than the Grande"
Me: "But isn't the Grande large?"
SG: "No it's a medium"
Me: "Well then, how tall is a tall?"
SG: "Small"
Me: "And whats Taller than a Tall?"
SG: "A Grande"
ME: "But that's only a medium"
SG: "Correct"
Me: "Well is there anything Grander than a Grande?"
SG: Yes, A Venti"

By this time I felt like I was being "Punked on Candid Camera," so I asked her to please hold up each size so that I can see which was which. By this time everyone behind me in line was laughing at me. The problem was this, until I was able to see the cups and compare their sizes, I was unable to determine what was tall, medium or large. I had to see the standard by which she measured the sizes. It's funny, in life, there are many things we call good, bad, right, wrong, crooked and straight. We say that one action or behavior is "better" than another, there seems to be a standard out there by which we are able to make those judgements and that ulitimate standard is God!

Just something to think about the next time you go to order your Double shot, decaf, extra hot, no foam, venti carmel maccioto, blended milk.